Well, day three of the IKF GrandNationals presented by King Taco and Pacific F2000 went pretty well. We were able to add three more drivers to the list of IKF experts and Rhonda Mimms Brown presented the Lake Speed Excellence award as part of the awards today.

First off I have to change up race information from yesterday. Nothing like unofficial results and long hours in the tech barn to kill the race reporter when he gets to the track the next day. The HPV 4 Heavy class results were vague on who was the top three. Phillipsen was penalized for contact with Riehl and place behind him for third place. Logan was still the winner and Riehl finished in 2^nd. The other boo boo was that the results listed #3 in 125 National Cup Nic LeDuci as being Dq’d at scales for being light. Turns out it was the 33 Jacob Neal was the driver light and not LeDuci. DeDuci was in fact the Duffy winner after Licata was DQ’d in tech for a spark plug infraction.

Now to the good stuff, three new IKF expert drivers. Camden Geise, Nick Johnston, and Glenn McKinnon all earned their gold plates and expert status today after turning in great drives. Geise needs to make a trip to Vegas and play the $1000 slots because his luck is sooooo good. Rookie Sportsman was the usual draft/pass fest that we have come to love from the cadet classes. Geise was the pole sitter, but it was Austin Barnes who started the final from the pole position. Seven drivers were in the lead draft as they got the two to go sign. Pass after pass was made on the final lap and as they came down to the deadly Buttonwillow chicane for the last time they were four wide. Barnes and Reed were the two drivers in the foremost position and once again there was a wreck. For the second straight day reed was involved in the last lap, last lap crash, but this time it was determined by race officials that his and Barnes’ contact was just a racing deal. Regardless of fault, Camden Geise drove through the dust for his 2^nd IKF GrandNational win of the week, becoming the youngest newly crowned expert of the week. Misty Balser sat in sixth at the drop of the white flag but quality racecraft and a little luck brought her through this Rookie Sportsman final in 2^nd. Barnes recovered enough to slip back in for 3^rd place.

HPV 3 was again the domain of Nick Johnston, Matt Johnson and Jacob Neal. Johnston was the pole sitter and the heat race winner but the final was a dead heat with his two main rivals. Johnson’s day ended with a thrown chain after tapping a curb the wrong way coming onto the front straight leaving only Neal to hunt Johnston. Johnston made only one mistake, hanging a wheel on the exit of turn ten, allowing Neal to close enough to challenge for the win. Neal was unable to make a good move and wisely took home 2^nd place. Johnston secured the win and his expert status. Plus Johnston was awarded the Lake Speed Excellence Award from last year’s winner Matt Johnson. Johnston showcased all the qualities that the Lake Speed award represents and gratefully accepted the award from fellow HPV competitor Johnson. Other drivers in the hunt for the award were Garrison Masters, Camden Geise, Neil McCoy and Joey Licata Jr. All were certainly worthy but the panel of officials deemed Johnston the man for this year.

The final new expert driver was a little older and a little heavier but just as determined as his younger counterparts. Unlike Geise and Johnston who won two races this weekend, 2006 Masters Formula Y/C GrandNational champion Glenn McKinnon backed it up again making it two years in a row that he has won this class. Mat Kattanak was the pole sitter, but McKinnon went on to win the heat race when Mike Riehl and Kattanak got together. McKinnon was the man in the final. With Riehl having to come through the back and Kattanak starting mid pack McKinnon had a few of free running laps before they could get clear of the pack and make a race of it. It didn’t seem that Kattanak had anything for the leader, but he did manage to keep Riehl behind him for most of the race. McKinnon sped off to a five second lead for the win. Riehl managed to finally get the pass completed on Kattanak for 2^nd place.

Joey Licata Jr. managed to collect another Eagle for his qualifying efforts today, this time in the IKF TAG  class. Mike Botelho Jr. got it done in the prefinal, and led the first few circuits in the final, but really Cory Pollock was in a world of his own. Pollock was issued a penalty in the heat race for contact with LeDuci, but quickly found his way to the point. Once out front it was a nice easy cruise for Pollock to the win. After no practice this week new baby daddy Rocky Moran Jr. showed up to try his luck in TAG. He was glad he did, snagging a great 2^nd place finish. Sure he wasn’t in the hunt for the win, but he fought very hard to get where he finished. With a little practice he might have won the thing. Chris Scribner also had a solid run, finishing in 3^rd after surviving the charge for third by a slew of other drivers.

Junior Superbox was a heart breaker for Donny St. Ours. St. Ours was the fast qualifier and won the heat race without much problem. He was on his way to the GrandNational title when that twenty-cent part failed him. Eric Gunderson was glued to the rear bumper of St. Ours for the final just riding it out for the white flag lap. Gunderson had mega power down the long 700’ straightaway, but St. Ours was better on the infield. It would have been a great last lap. Turns out that it wasn’t as St. Ours went dead in the water as they were headed for the white flag. Gunderson never faltered and scored his first Duffy. The ground strap connector broke on St. Our’s motor failing at just the wrong moment. Miles Maroney had no wrong moments today and drove a spectacular race for a 2^nd place finish. Although Branden Underwood’s transponder fell off on the parade lap, he too had a quality run finishing on another Junior podium in 3^rd place.

Neil McCoy has earned like three Duffies so far this week, one a day for sure. Today’s Senior Superbox eagle went to none other than McCoy. McCoy and Michael Varela were the class of the field in the prefinal, finishing 1-2 and setting the stage for the final. Joey Licata Jr. ran solidly in 3^rd place for most of the laps, finishing off his nationals with another trip to the podium. Up front the #99 and #98 were the only two karts who led this thing. McCoy’s Duffy had eluded him all week and this kid was well over due to have one of his own. Varela raced him clean and hard, but just didn’t have enough to keep McCoy denied for another day. Varela took his second trip to the podium today with a fine 2^nd place finish.

Day 4, the final day, finally is tomorrow. I’m afraid the entries are not spectacular so it won’t be much of a race report. Hopefully we get one or two classes with enough entries to make it halfway interesting.

Reported By: Sean Buur

Day two of the IKF GrandNationals presented by King Taco and PanaVise took place again under very sunny skies at the always fabulous Buttonwillow Raceway Park karting circuit. Today might have been the most exciting day of racing I have ever seen at this track. We had passes, we had crashes, and we even had a DQ for a Duffy, but what we didn’t have was a dull moment. Results will be up on mylaps sometime on Friday but as of now everything is unofficial and pure speculation on my part J

Maxx Motorsports HPV 4 Heavy got the ball rolling today with Brian Phillipsen scoring the pole with a time of 52.970. Michael “the Riehl Deal” Riehl was off pole and followed Phillipsen to the line in the heat race. Phillipsen gained an advantage on the start, but Riehl was quick to make his bid for the lead. It looked like Riehl was going to just drive away, but after a few laps Phillipsen’s kart seemed to come in and we were back to a race up front. Lap after lap Riehl led Phillipsen’s #59 around the 7/10ths of a mile circuit. Aaron Koop and Rob Logan had a blockbuster battle for third place just slightly back of the lead duo. Little did we know just how important that position would be at the end of the 21 lap final. Riehl and Phillipsen went into the back portion of the track and contact ensued. Riehl pulled back onto the racing line to defend his new position of 2^nd place and made more contact with Logan. Logan’s run ended in 2^nd place on track with Phillipsen crossing the line is 1^st and Riehl in 3^rd. That running order didn’t last as Phillipsen was penalized for rough driving. Logan became the HPV 4 Heavy Duffy winner while Riehl was left with only disappointment and a smaller trophy

After a great run yesterday, Brandon reed was at it again today scoring the Grand Products / TopKart Junior 1 Screaming Eagle pole award. Reed went on to win the prefinal over Raquel Martinez and Camden Geise. As with most Jr. 1 races the lead pack consisted of nearly a dozen drivers at one point. John Norris, Connor Ford, and Kiel Spaulding joined Reed, Martinez and Geise in the pursuit of the all mighty Duffy. Reed led a large portion of the race, and when he wasn’t you could tell he still wanted to. Reed and Spaulding got together with only five laps together springing Geise and Martinez, but Reed wasn’t out of it yet. With two to go it was anyone’s ball game and the top three traded the lead. Martinez had Reed’s number in the back section and she set him up as planned. He countered in the next corner, but she crossed back under him. Geise sat in third hoping for the slightest chance, and his wish was granted. Reed made one last ditch effort resulting in both he and Martinez being sidelined. Geise crossed the finish line with his hands in the air celebrating his first GrandNational victory. Norris capped off his great day with a 2^nd place trophy. Ford too capitalized on the crash and moved up to finish 3^rd. Austin Barnes had the run of the day, driving up from 26^th to finish in 4^th place. Jacob Will got banged around a bit in the final but still managed to bring it home in 5^th.

Nick Johnston was the Position 1 Motor Sports Formula Y pole sitter running a 51.524. Joey Licata Jr. snagged the prefinal win setting up a spectacular final that no one could have predicted. Licata, Johnston, Matt Johnson, Jacob Neal and Mike Varela all led at least one lap of the final, and three of them did it all on the same lap. Everyone jockey’d for position throughout the course of the race and one by one the lead pack grew larger and larger. By the time the white flag flew five drivers were in a position to win this race, but Johnson, Neal and Varela had the best seats. The leaders made three passes for the win on the final lap and all without contact. Neal snuck by all for an impressive win. Neal overcame adversity in qualifying today when his F-Y kart got away from him when attempting to push start it. Well it started, left the grid without him, crossed the track, gained speed, and eventually ran into the dirt burm on the other side of the track. His chassis was toast, so with a backup ride he managed to pull this one out over some of the best in the business. All the drivers did a great job of keeping it clean and not making it any less exciting to watch. Johnson finished second again today. One more runner’s up finish and it will be a trend. Varela earned his first of two good finishes today in 3^rd. Licata and Johnston rounded out the top five.

The Pitts Performance HPV 2 Junior class had a hard time getting their final started. Garrison Masters was the pole sitter and the prefinal winner, but his chief rival Dylan Albiani had an issue in the heat race and fell way back into the mix of things. Albiani was going to need a little luck to get after Masters in the main event. After a red flag for an injured Justin Coplen (he was fine later in the day) the Juniors finally took the green flag. Masters sped off into the distance and Albiani needed a few laps to break free of the pack. Not to sell the pack short on their expertise in driving but it was hard to turn away from the match race up front. Neil Alberico, Branden Underwood, Miles Maroney, Mason Marotta, Brenden Phinny and Donny St. Ours all scrapped quite hard for their positions on the podium, but well up the track from them Masters was driving the smartest race of his life. Once Albiani ran down the leader I thought it was all over for Masters, but it took a few laps before Albiani was able to make a clean pass at the end of the straightaway. All Albiani needed was three clean corners without Masters and he would have been gone. Masters counted with a pass in turn four to maintain his lead. Back and forth this went on for at least 5 laps. Masters never let Albiani out of his grasp and managed the slightest lead on the white flag lap. It was just enough for Masters to earn his third IKF GrandNational title. Albiani finished a close second while Alberico, Underwood, and Maroney capped off the top five.

The PanaVise 125cc National Cup race is one that I’m not 100% on how it officially turned out. Joey Licata Jr. was the pole sitter and the prefinal winner. He also just whooped up on everyone in the final too. Really, he was the class of the field and untouchable on track. The race for 2^nd was pretty good with Chris Scribner, Jacob Neal, Cody Hodgson, and Nic LeDuci all fighting for best in class. After the butt kicking administered by Licata things got interesting. First off LeDuci was DQ’d at scales for being light and I’m fairly sure that was from 2^nd place. It gets better, or worse actually as Licata was DQ’d in tech for something with the spark plug being broke, or something like that. All that’s still unofficial, but if true you 2007 IKF GrandNational Duffy winner in National cup is Cody Hodgson. Neal would be elevated to 2^nd and Scribner would take the 3^rd place honors.

Precision works Sr. Sportsman Heavy was yet another epic battle. You never want to see a class with only eleven entries, but when 6 of those can win the race it makes it a lot more acceptable. Neil McCoy set the pace in qualifying and backed it up in the prefinal. With two eagles under his belt already he was hungry for a Duffy. The only two things getting in McCoy’s way of his goal were Jordan Brown and Michael Varela. The last class of the day is always hardest to watch, but people actually came out of their pits to see how this race unfolded. McCoy held down the point, but Brown had is heart set on the win. They passed a few times on the last lap with both of them losing momentum coming off the corner before the famed Buttonwillow chicane. Varela saw his opportunity to pounce and did, slipping by on the outside to steal his first National win as a senior driver. The final Duffy of the day went to Varela and McCoy had to settle for 2^nd, and Brown 3^rd. These guys raced so hard and so clean it was amazing. All of them should be proud for their on track behavior. Too often the bonsai move is all you can think of and your reputation suffers after that.

Tomorrow will be the last day of good racing I’m afraid. Shifter entries are not looking good for Saturday. I will give mad props to IKF for combining these two events. I’d love to see 4 cycle added to the program and a few 2 cycle classes dropped so we can have just one IKF Sprint GrandNational, but dare to dream I guess.

Reported By: Sean Buur

Well, the IKF GrandNationals are finally here for 2007. Even though they came early this year it still seams like it took a long time to get to this point. Some of that comes from living in So-Cal where we have the luxury of racing year round and the season never really ends, just blurs together. Either way we are here at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, it’s hot, and we actually had a pretty good first day of racing. You never know how things will play out on race day, but the first day of an event is probably the hardest. At the time of leaving the track tonight at 7:45 PM PDST tech was not cleared so all race recaps are very unofficial.

The Kid Karts were invited this year to run as a non-Duffy class and give them a small taste of the big time of IKF racing. Competition was as fierce in this class as it was in any other and all participants were awarded participation trophies for their efforts, of course first place’s was a bit bigger. Tommy Yerkovich was the pole sitter but it was Royal McKee who beat Brenden Baker to the line in prefinal action. The final was all McKee when it counted. He slowly was able to gap the field by almost two seconds. Noah Garza ran solidly in second place after a nice scrap with ray Lantz, Baker and Nelson Rader. The kids had a great time and all piled onto the podium for the only awards presentation of the day.

Neil McCoy posted the best qualifying lap in Senior Sportsman, but Joey Licata came through to win the prefinal. Even with only eight entries in this class the final was not too shabby to watch. The field spread out into two packs of four with Licata leading the way. By half way it was clear that Licata had this one in hand, but Brandon Toy, McCoy and Chris Brown were just getting started. Toy ran the first half of the race behind Licata, but McCoy was able to make a pass in turn one for the position. They traded 2^nd a couple times, but in the end McCoy held on as the runner up and Toy was passed by Brown for third. Fifth place was up for grabs the entire time with the remaining four drivers making pass after pass. Mike Botelho Jr. landed 5^th place. Licata took home his first of what could be many Duffies this week.

Dylan Albiani was the Junior Superbox pole sitter and it came as no surprise. This kid is superfast, here in particular. Albiani sports a monster Yamaha and is nearly untouchable when he is on his game. Unfortunately for the other twenty-eight drivers in his class his game was good today. Albiani easily won the prefinal, but Mason Marotta and Timmy Bachman had a good race for second place. The Junior Superbox final was a mess from the get go, but that’s to be expected I suppose from these aggressive drivers. The only chance any one had to beat Albiani today was to snake him on the start. Bachman tried a few times and got sent back for his efforts. Once they finally got the green flag it didn’t last long. Miles Maroney replaced Bachman on the front row and got turned right past the waiving green. I have never seen a kart so sideways and continue on. I think getting his from the side straightened him out, he continued on back in 8^th. The race was flagged for a complete restart and once again thy crashed. This time Bachman and Maroney were both out along with fellow front-runners Kolby Araki and Dylan Nobile. Albiani added another Duffy to his collection as the rest fought for best in class. Marotta, Garrison Masters and Donny St. Ours all held second place at one point in the 17 lap final, but they were well back of the leader. Fifth place was up for grabs the entire time too as a handful of drivers also occupied the final podium position. Neil Alberico managed to stake his claim on the last lap.

Joey Licata Jr. added an Eagle to his trophy case by claiming the pole position in HPV 4 qualifying. Licata has been outstanding all year in this class and it came as no surprise that he was fast. The heat race started out with Licata gaining a small advantage, but the pack was able to reel him in towards the end of the race. Neil McCoy made the pass for the lead and started the final from the pole. Matt Johnson, Jacob Neal, Mike Varela, and Brandon Toy were all there in the hunt too. The final was squirrelly as contact in turn three put McCoy well back in the pack. Johnson came out of turn three with the lead and Varela in tow. Licata was quick to get around Varela for second, but a hung wheel dropped him back, just slightly ahead of McCoy. Nick Johnston was the man on the move, taking positions right and left. Johnston and Johnson have a sorted past from the IKF race just a few weeks ago and those of us who were there kinda wanted something to materialize. It wasn’t long before Johnston had the lead and he and Johnson were inching away from third place Varela. Varela had a rear bumper full of Joey Barros and Chris Scribner, but held on to 3^rd at the finish. Johnson took the white flag from Anton, but gave up the lead in turn three. A proper passing area never presented itself after that and Nick Johnston grabbed his first Duffy. Johnson, already an expert took a smart 2^nd.

Formula Y Heavy was the final class of the day, but they ran their final before HPV 1 after the red flag stopped their race. Matt Kattanek was the pole sitter, running a time of 54.427. Brian Phillipsen moved up fourth to secure the prefinal win, just beating Kattanek to the line. The final was really all Phillipsen who went flag to flag for the win. Kattanek fell back to 4^th on the start but was able to work his way back up into 2^nd after only a few laps. Behind the lead duo Glenn McKinnon, Michael Riehl, Gary Gwin and Rob Logan all fought for 3^rd place. Riehl got caught up in the mess made by Gwin and McKinnon’s epic battle, ending his day early. Gwin was eventually able to get and hold 3^rd place while Logan came away with 4^th. Aaron Koop picked up a solid 5^th place finish.

Camden Geise took the pole in the most anticipated race of the day, HPV 1. Brandon Reed led the eight-kart train to the finish line in the prefinal and got the ball rolling for the final. The first attempted start ended with a red flag for Peter Yerkovich Jr. using a fellow competitor as a launching pad. After the restart Reed picked up where he left off, up front. Four drivers pulled away from the pack with Reed holding down the point. Raquel Martinez, Giese, Luis Tyrrell jockeyed for position before they were able to unseat Reed for the lead. Once they got past it was a free for all allowing the #00 driven by Jake Craig to join the party. It was a great last few laps as everyone cheered for their favorite driver to win. The Duffy was still up for grabs as they got the white flag and miraculously Tyrrell came up big for the win. Martinez gave it her all, trying to sneak by under Tyrrell at the line, but she had to settle for 2^nd today. Giese came away with a strong 3^rd, while Reed ended his good run in 4^th. Craig held on finishing in 5^th.

Day two tomorrow is expected to be hotter than today both in weather conditions and in racing action.

Reported By: Sean Buur

The growth of NorcalKarters.com has seen the most prominent Businesses in Karting support Region 11's leading website for news and information. From top Engine builders such as Swedetech Racing Engines and Bordogna, top dealers like California Kartworld, Kartel Motorsports, MMS Karting and Cambrian Karts, Distributors in Emmick Enterprises and MMI Motorsports, to leading industry manufacturers in Burris, Scribner Plastics, Zamp Helmets and Motowear.

NorcalKarters.com has brought in kart video footage, updated news and results, were the first to implement two forums in the traditional chat and announcement forum, as well as Regional 11 Wide open. Also the first to bring upon Live Streaming Video to the Karting world of the Kart Sport Grand Prix. NorcalKarters.com is dedicated to the promotion of the Karting industry to help the growth of the businesses, organizations, and the tracks within karting.

Look for more information within Norcalkarters.com such as a Forms page filled with useful insight and worksheets.

"Now Playing on NorcalKarters.com the Kartsport Grand prix!" Keep your computer to www.NorcalKarters.com this weekend for the Hott action at Infineon raceway.

Due to the busy weekend, only 18 karts ran for the first race at the facility. Despite the low kart count, every winner was still awarded $100 and every second place finisher received a $35 gift certificate to MMI Motorsports out of Stockton Ca. The day was clear sky and sunny, the facility was national caliber with paved 20' pit spots, full tech area, grid, and the feel of a State of the art motorsports facility. This park even had an air conditioned scoring tower with lounge, toilets, a look of the entire facility and two gals using an unknown scoring system to perfection.

Racing started with the six kart field of Jr 1 comers. Okay well there was one Comer, and five vintage karts, but these vintage karts put up a fight with the Comer, or the Comer put up a fight with the Vintage Karts. Joseph Keaton got the pole in the Scribner Motorsports Sponsored jr Comer. In the Pre-Final both Keaton and Gary Burbridge switched the top spot around several times before Burbridge took over the lead for good to put himself on the pole for the Final. Burbridge got the whole shot on the start of the Final. A few laps went by before Keaton began to close in. Around halfway Keaton pulled the trigger on Burbridge and put his Tony Kart to the inside on turn three. Burbridge tried to mount a challenge to take the spot back, but as the race grew old Keaton's kart got better, and ran away for the win. Burbridge got second, and Blair Pine third.

Next up was five kart class of NorcalKarters.com Sponsored National Cup. Geoff Shaw got the pole by .002 of a second over Sprint Car Pilot Laura Hayes. Hayes on used tires was looking for the Final and the prize. In the Pre-Final the two started along side each other. Shaw got the lead on the start. The two went back and forth for position until Hayes tires began to fade, and Shaw gapped her enough to hold on for the Final pole position. O n the start of the Final, Shaw again got the lead and gapped Hayes early, but as her tires came in she began to close in on Shaw. Around Lap six Hayes turned the fastest lap of the race at a 25.894. Lap eight as Hayes came off the banking looking to make a move on Shaw, chain came off and ended her day. Shaw got out and cruised to victory. Leo Montero was second, and Ricardo Moran third.

Last race of the day was the Zamp Helmets Formula 80 limited featuring Ford Focus driver Ian Miille and Late Model drive for Diversity development driver Juan Pitta. Pitta got fast time but in the Pre-Final Miille got the whole shot. Miille lead for the majority of the race, but with three laps to go Pitta snuck by in the back sweeper. The Final lineup was the same as Pre-Final. This time Pitta got the whole shot on Miille. Early on Miille made a pit stop and lost some track on Pitta. Juan got the victory and made some celebratory donuts. Dustin Brothers got a hard earned second and Mario Dijogo third.

The Altamont Karting Kickoff was just the start of this years karting events at Altamont. Stat tuned to NorcalKarters.com for future karting events at the Speedway.

The action started Saturday as Kartel Motorsports drivers Brendan Phinny and Neil Alberico took to the track in HPV-4 Jr and Jr. Superbox. Alberico ran Superbox and stuck his Top Kart off pole only .005 a second from fast time. Alberico conserved tires in the heat race to get ready for the 18 lap Final. Alberico finished 9th on the day. Brendan Phinny didn't get a qualifying time and had to start the Heat from the back. Phinny moved to the12th position for his starting spot in the Main. Phinny would finish 12th in the Main as well.

Brendan Phinny qualified sixth in HPV-4 jr. Phinny worked hard in the Heat to move to the third position and his Main starting position. In the main rough driving put Phinny back early, but his consistent lap times got him a well earned fourth finishing position.

Sunday was the day when both Kartel Motorsports drivers would compete in HPV-2. Neil Alberico would qualify fourth while Phinny got the 17th position. The top 21 positions were all within a half a second in Qualifying times. In the heat Alberico was bumped on the last lap and fell back to sixth while Phinny made a charge through the field to the ninth position. In the Main Phinny got taken out in a first lap wreck while Alberico got a hard fought third.

Watch for Kartel Motorsports at the upcoming 2-cycle grand nationals at Buttonwillow with their Swedetech Powered Top Karts running for the Duffies.